1975 Dodge Truck truck has no power

OLDDODGETRUCK

MEMBER
1975 DODGE TRUCK
5.2L
V8
4WD
AUTOMATIC
133,000 MILES

I have a 1975 dodge w100 with a '69 chrysler 318 industrial. My dad was driving the truck and he said it started running really rough. The faster you went the worse it ran. He decided to keep going because he was only a few miles from the house. Then the fan belt broke, he drove about 100 yards before stopping at an approach. He put on the spare fan belt and tried to start the engine. He said it ran really badly. He put it in reverse and it stalled out, he tried a couple more times and same thing. He said that when he revved it, it sounded like it had no power. I rebuilt the carb about a month ago and haven't had any problems, so I don't think it's that. The fuel filter isn't plugged either. He said he didn't hear a vacuum leak. He didn't get it to start, so he got a ride back to the farm. Any ideas?

3 Replies

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,738 POSTS

That's a dandy story, but there aren't really any details I can use to come up with a diagnosis. First of all, you have to determine if you have spark and fuel. I'm sure you know how to look down the carburetor to see if there's two nice streams of fuel when you work the throttle. If there is, and the engine starts and runs for a little while, then acts up again, (commonly for some reason in 15 miles), suspect a collapsing pickup screen inside the gas tank.

If you get no fuel right now, crank the engine for five to ten seconds, then check again after working the throttle a few times. If you get fuel now, suspect that screen. They stretch out and pass fuel after sitting a little while. Don't get carried away with the starter. There's no point in overheating it.

If you have no spark, you're going to have to tell me the type of ignition system you have. All '72 Dodges, and '73 and newer Chryslers and Plymouths had an electronic ignition system that's pretty easy to diagnose. Your industrial engine may still have breaker points.